Letters to the Editor: Nov. 30

Overall, The State Journal-Register has done a good job covering the state budget mess. Some of the proposed budget cuts, however, must have been overlooked.

Overall, The State Journal-Register has done a good job covering the state budget mess. Some of the proposed budget cuts, however, must have been overlooked.

Nowhere did I see cuts proposed in jet fuel or flight operations. None reported either on unnecessary office space in Chicago. Example: Every constitutional officer has an office in, or near, the Capitol. Why are the taxpayers paying rent for offices elsewhere?

Most department directors have offices in Springfield. Why, when they manage to drag themselves to Springfield, do they travel on our dime as well as rent hotel rooms and eat at taxpayer expense?
We have a statewide election coming up in 2010. Anyone who does not wish to live and work in the capital city should not run for office.

If everyone would remember that Springfield is the seat of state government and act accordingly, we would not be in a position that requires cutbacks on hours at the Dana-Thomas House and other sites vital to our tourist industry and the historic connections of the state of Illinois.

James Peters Sr.
Springfield

Will city leaders ever learn from past mistakes?
Are we ever going to learn from our past mistakes? I wonder.
On your recent article regarding the city of Springfield’s budget woes, you reported that a recommendation was made to tap into City Water, Light and Power resources to balance the city budget.

We, here in Springfield, are very lucky to have our own utility. It is well-managed — as long as the aldermen and the mayor do not interfere with its operations.

Recently, we saw the fiasco in which the city refused to pay competitive wages to a well-qualified employee of CWLP; he moved on to another job and we ended up paying through the nose to hire, on a temporary basis, the expertise we lost due to our own inanity.

Yes, inanity.

Recently, we debated and argued about paying top dollar for some worthless gravel pits, to obtain a dubious source of water, when we have already spent millions of the taxpayers’ dollars to purchase, study and restudy the development of a second lake.

The land has been purchased. We should complete the project and submit it to the state Environmental Protection Agency instead of wasting the taxpayers’ money on another scheme to make somebody’s friend richer. What a waste of energy and resources!

Now we are proposing to deplete our CWLP resources to pay for the fiscal irresponsibility of a city government that cannot live within its means. Those resources are needed at the city-owned utility to maintain, replace, build and purchase equipment, materiel and additional sources of energy to serve our city for future generations to come.

We are talking about tapping into our future energy independence to cover up the inability of our elected officials to make hard choices.
Enough is enough, I say. Those of us who live in this city and pay our taxes are entitled to responsible government. So, aldermen and Mayor Tim Davlin, do what you were paid to do. Govern our city responsibly and make the hard choices that your are being paid to make. Do not make another mess and leave it to our children to clean up after you are gone.

Enrique J. Unanue
Springfield

Know-it-all attitude is killing a lot of Americans
Obesity in America has become a national embarrassment. Not so in other countries. Until the mindset of the American public is changed concerning proper nutrition, this alarming scenario will keep growing.
One can hear children on talk shows screaming, “I don’t want anyone to tell me what to do!”

At this early age this attitude is carried over into adulthood and proper nutrition becomes a problem. Diabetics are exclaiming they are going to eat whatever they desire even if it kills them. It generally does. Some say the quality of life is more important than monitoring their intake of food and they say if it takes 10 years off my life — so be it.

In another vein, the carnage that was envisioned months before the economy went belly-up is a prime example of bureaucrats being responsible for its own ruination. The phrase comes into play, “Don’t tell me what to do.” It is this sort of lunacy that has caused much of America’s problems in many fields. Many Americans know it all and this sort of attitude is especially driven in their nutritional choices.

I would encourage all people to follow a vegetarian diet, which is completely void of animal fat. How anyone can eat anything that has ever been alive is beyond me. It is in my book the same thing as cannibalism. No animal should ever have to be exposed to the heinous nature of man.

I would say to the American public, “You are too fat!”

Don Daggett
Springfield

State will do Abe proud — in spite of Blagojevich
The Nov. 9 State Journal-Register feature on the Lincoln bicentennial proclaims, “No one is letting the state’s budget woes dampen the spirits.” What planet are you living on?

Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s budget cuts have pretty much gutted the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, which oversees the Lincoln sites. Smaller sites hoping to benefit from the bicentennial tourism boom will be closed. Whatever else those towns may have to offer, their site is what visitors come to see.

The result will be lost revenues, disappointed, angry visitors and negative word-of-mouth advertising. Many IHPA staffers who have spent 20-plus years making Illinois history available to the world will be gone. That knowledge and expertise will be lost forever.

Some Lincoln sites will have reduced hours. Will the family from Texas who planned to visit Lincoln’s law office on Tuesday extend their stay through Saturday, the only day that site is open?

Sites that remain open will have a daunting mission. They’ll be expected to roll out the red carpet and provide the ultimate visitor experience with fewer staffers and less money.

The Illinois Bicentennial Commission was formed in 2006 to pull together a year of programs that would showcase Lincoln’s life, influence and continuing relevance. It was instrumental in helping communities throughout Illinois to promote and develop their own Lincoln connection via the Looking for Lincoln project.

Events were planned based on promised funding. In FY09, the bicentennial year, $2 million was appropriated but spending authority was only given to $500,000. After news of budget cuts and site closures, the group gave 50 percent of that $500,000 back to IHPA to help keep New Salem, the Old State Capitol and Lincoln’s Tomb open. Now it’s show time and the 200th birthday party, welcoming guests from around the world, is being planned on a shoestring budget. The world is invited for a steak dinner and all we have in the fridge is hamburger.

The year 2009 will come and go. Illinois will do Mr. Lincoln proud in spite of Gov. Blagojevich. Planners will be smiling and participants will be praising. Just remember that behind it all there’s a weary, stressed out, frazzled and spiritless group who pulled off a miracle.

Jennifer Ericson
Pawnee

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